BOONVILLE, Ind. — Hillary Melchiors, a Warrick County School Corp. mom, is frustrated.

Last October, Melchiors and a friend urged Warrick County School Board members to remove the “antiquated” corporal punishment policy from the student handbook. But when she reviewed the 2018-19 handbook for her two daughters who attend Sharon Elementary it was still there.

However, WCSC Superintendent Brad Schneider said it was too late last year to eliminate corporal punishment from disciplinary guidelines. Schneider said handbooks must be sent to printers early to be done for the new school year. He said officials will communicate with parents.

“We’re taking it out,” he said. “So it definitely will not be in next year’s handbook, but it was actually too late to change (this year’s) handbook.”

Melchiors was pleased to hear it will be removed, but she still has questions, including: "Because it is printed in the handbook doesn’t it mean it’s policy? Should I not have been informed that policy had been changed and was different than what was printed and what I was given? And what other policies have changed that I was not informed about?"

Melchiors noted she understands the start of school is hectic and books had already gone to the printer, but she said there’s a breakdown in communication.

"They have a lot of things going on, and this is probably not their first priority, but I feel since a point was made in presenting a case to the school board and a pretty extensive change was made perhaps they could have been a little better about communicating," she said. "I don’t want to be overly critical, but at the same time I’m frustrated as a parent."

In his 22 years with the district, 16 as superintendent, Schneider said no one has disciplined a child using corporal punishment, and no one will start.

“Just because it’s in the handbook doesn’t mean we’re going to do it,” Schneider said. “But we’ll get it out of there, and it will help clarify for the parents who are concerned about it.”

Corporal punishment is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “punishment that involves hitting someone.”

Warrick's elementary student handbook states corporal punishment is a “penalty for misbehavior" administered by authorized school personnel. It would be a “last resort” consequence for disruptive behavior in elementary school only, according to the policy, and parents/guardians would be verbally notified first, followed by written notification.

But a parent or guardian can request corporal punishment not be used on their child if they file a form with the principal.

Schneider noted if parents feel the need to submit a form they can, but he said it’s not necessary.

“None of my principals would use corporal punishment. … We’re not going to start now.”

Melchiors said she is confident her children's principal wouldn't use it.

“I’d like to make sure it’s not even an option for other kids,” she said.

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. bylaws and policies state corporal punishment shall not be permitted.